165 2.11 Visual information 6 Practice B Write a parasranh commenting onthe data in the table below. Student survey of library facilities: percentage of students rating, facilities as good. Library facilities Undergraduates Postgraduates Opening hours 7] 63 Staff helpfulness 94 81 Ease of using electronic | 65 87 catalogue ‘Availability of working | 80 76 space Café area 2 95 Availability of short loan | 43, 35 stock Quality of main book 6 54 stock (Source: Author)164 Part 2. Elements of writing 5 Pract IH Complete the following description of the table below (one word per ap). Projected population changes in various European countries 2010-2050 (millions). Country Population 2010 _| Projected Change population 2050 France 62 o7 +5 Germany 82 n “11 Italy 60 37 -3 Poland 38 32 -6 Portugal 107 10 -07 Russia 140 116 = 24 Spain 45 51 +6 UK 61 72 +10 (Source: UN) The table (a) the projected population changes in (b) European countries (c)_ __. 2010 and 2050. It can be seen that in a (d) the population is expected to fall, in some cases (i.e. Germany and Ru quite (e) However, the population of France, (f)__ the UK is predicted to increase, in the case of the last two by more (g) 5 percent,163 jal information I (b) Complete the description of the chart below. ‘The bar chart shows population (e) Te) variety of countries around the worl the extreme contrast (c) crowded nations such as South Korea (475 people per sq. km.) and much (a) countries such as Canada (3 people per sq. km), Clearly, climate plays a major (e) in determining population density, (f) the least crowded nations (g) to have extreme climates (e.g. cold in Russia or dry in Algeria) Canada Russia Algeria [J Brazil chine eran Japan S.Korea acer 0 100 = 200 300, 400500 Figure 2 Population density (people per square kilometre) (Source: OECD) 4 Labelling © When referring ter vial infiiemati tn thonergre-aard ‘Aigore?ite & used for almost everything (such as maps, charts and. graphs) except tables (see examples above) ‘+ Figures and tables should be numbered and given a title. Titles of tables are written above, while titles of figures are written below the data + As with other data, sources must be given for all visual information. * Ifyou are writing a lengthy work such as a dissertation you will need to provide lists of tables and figures, showing numbers, titles and page numbers after the contents page.162 Part 2 Elements of writing 3 Describing visuals Although visuals do largely speak for themselves, it is common to help the reader interpret them by briefly commenting on their main features The graph shows the changes in the price of oil since 1990 map illustrates the main sources of copper in Africa diagram displays the organisation of both companies I (a) Read the following descriptions of the chart below. Which is better, ‘and why? i) The chart shows the quantity of tea consumed by the world’s leading tea consuming nations. India and China together ‘consume more than half the world’s tea production, with India alone consuming about one third. Other significant tea ‘consumers are Turkey, Russia and Britain. ‘Others’ includes the United States, Iran and Egypt. (ii) The chart shows that 31 per cent of the world’s tea is consumed by India, 23 per cent by China, and 8 per cent by ‘Turkey. The fourth largest consumers are Russia, Japan and Britain, with 7 per cent each, while Pakistan consumes § per cent. Other countries account for the remaining 12 per cent. Paxsten = Japan Betain 7% Russa 7% (Source: The Tea Council) 8% Figure 1 World tea consumption161 2.11 Visual information {C) Electricity output from coal oS 88888388 China Ausrala India Untod Stee Germany Electricity output % from coal {D) Origins of international students Ti rwcan TIN sates Tl ewvve ome i asica {E) Structure of the research unit ner aati ZN ‘eae sean {F) Position of the main i library eae seincs at Ente SN] tani160 Part2 Elements of writing TYPES USES EXAMPLE 1 diagram 2 table 3 map 4 pie chart 5 bar chart 6 line graph (A) Cinema ticket 900 sales 400 300 200 100 ° 2000 2901 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 ‘Cinema ticket sales (Sm) 2000-2009 (B) Average life Sapalt B16 expectancy (in years) France 79.0 United States 774 South Korea 75.5 Ghana 57.9 South Africa 477 Kenya 44.6 Zimbabwe 33,1159 2.11 Visual information Average temperatures rose steadily until 2006 and then dropped slightly. ‘There was a sharp decrease in sales during the summer and then a gradual Study the eraph below and complete the description with phrases trom the table opposite. 5 aN ei is a WS i Sheet zl + | Ss 1 ° eA my Sg) oa IntationJanuary-September The graph shows that inflation (a) slightly between January and February and then (b) until April. It subsequently climbed (c) to July, when it) at just over 5 per cent. From July to September inflation (e) steeply. 2 Types of visuals I On pp, 160-161 are examples of some of the main types of visuals ‘used in academic texts. Complete the table fo show the use (@-f) and the example (@-F) of each type. Uses: (a) location (b) comparison (c) proportion (a) function (e} changes in time (statistical displayCHAPTER 211 Visual __ information In many assignments it is essential to support your arguments with statistics, Visual devices such as graphs and tables are a convenient way of displaying large quantities of information in a form that is easy to understand. This unit explains and practises the language connected with these devices. 1 The language of change (past tenses in brackets) Verb _— Adverb Verb ae Adjective + noun grow (grew) slightly drop (dropped) a slight drop. rise (rose) gradually fall (fell) a gradual fall increase (increased) | steadily decrease (decreased) a sharp decrease climb (climbed) sharply decline (declined) a steady decline also: a peak, to peak, a plateau, to level off, a trough157 2.10 Style Until you feel confident in your writing, itis better to use shorter rather than longer sentences, This should make your meaning as clear as possible.156 Part 2 Elements of writing Effective writing normally uses a mixture of long and short sentences, offen using a short sentence to introduce the topic: Car scrappage schemes have been introduced in many countries. They offer a subsidy to buyers of new cars, who must scrap an old vehicle. The schemes are designed to stimulate the economy and also increase fuel efficiency. I Re-rite the following paragraph so that instead of six short sentences there are two long and two short sentences. El Worldwide, enrolments in higher education are increasing. In developed countries over half of all young people enter college. Similar trends are seen in China and South America. This growth has put financial strain on state university systems. Many countries are asking students and parents to contribute. This leads to a debate about whether students or society benefit from tertiary education. I The following sentence is too long. Divide it into shorter ones. Ea China is one developing country (but not the only one) which has imposed fees on students since 1997, but the results have been surprising: enrolments, especially in the most expensive universities, have continued to rise steeply, growing 200 per cent overall between 1997 and 2001; it ‘seems in this case that higher fees attract rather than discourage students, who see them as a sign of a good education, and compete more fiercely for places, leading to the result that a place at a good college can cost $5000 per year for fees and maintenance.155, 2.10 Style I In the following text, remove all repetition and redundancy, rewriting here necessary. FAST FOOD Currently these days, fast food is growing in popularity. Fast food is a kind of food that people can buy ready to eat or cook quickly, This essay examines the advantages of fast food and the drawbacks of fast food. First above all, fast food is very convenient. Most of the people who work in offices are very busy, so that they do not have time to go to their homes for lunch. But the people who work in offices can eat in restaurants such as McDonalds, which are franchised in hundreds of countries. In addition, the second benefit of fast food is its cheapness. As it is produced in large quantities, this high volume means that the ‘companies can keep costs down. As a result fast food is usually less expensive than a meal in a conventional restaurant. 5 Varying sentence length Shor semen are der and easy © rd & Car scrappage schemes have been introduced in many countries. But too many short sentences are monotonous: Car scrappage schemes have been introduced in many countries. They offer a subsidy to buyers of new cars. The buyers must scrap an old vehicle. The schemes are designed to stimulate the economy. They also increase fuel efficiency. Long sentences are more interesting but can be difficult to construct and read: Car scrappage schemes, which offer a subsidy to buyers of new cars, who must scrap an ald vehicle, have been introduced in many countries; the schemes are designed to stimulate the economy and also increase fuel efficiency.154, Part 2. Elements of writing {e) You can't always trust the numbers in that report. (f) Sadly, the high inflation led to poverty, social unrest and so on. (g) He was over the moon when he won the prize. (h) I think we should pay students to study. (i) A few years ago they allowed women to vote. {j) What were the main causes of the Russian revolution? 4 Av ing repeti n and redundancy Repetition means repeating a word instead of using a synonym to provide variety, which makes the text more interesting, So instead of, Most family businesses employ less than ten people. These businesses Use: Most family businesses employ less than ten people. These firms... D> Sce Unit 3.11 Synonyms Redundancy, ie. repeating an idea or including an irrelevant point, suggests, that the writer is not fully in control of the material. It gives the impression that either he does not properly understand the language or is trying to ‘pad? the essay by repeating the same point. Avoid phrases such as: Homelessness is a global problem in the whole world, Good writing aims for economy and precision: Homelessness is a global problem.153 2.10 Style ‘+ ger’ phrases such as get better / worse. Use improve and deteriorate © good / bad are simplistic. Use poitive / negative, e.g. the changes ‘bad several pasitive aspects. (i) Do not use question forms such as Why did war break out in 1914? Instead use statements: There mere three reasons for the outbreak of (j) Avoid numbering sections of your text, except in reports and long, «essays. Use conjunctions and signposting, expressions to introduce new sections (Turning to the question of detecting cancer...) (k) When writing lists, avoid using ete or and so on. Insert and before the last item: The main products were pharmaceuticals, electronic goods and confectionery. (1) Avoid using two-word verbs such as go on or bring up if there is a suitable synonym. Use continue or reise D> Sce Unit 3.2 Academic vocabulary 3 Practice In the following sentences, underline examples of bad stvle and re- rite them in a more suitable way. {a) Another thing to think about is the chance of crime getting worse. (b) Regrettably these days lots of people don’t have jobs. {c) Sometime soon they will find a vaccine for malaria. (d) A few years ago the price of property in Japan went down alot.